NameCensus.

UK surname

Holderness

A locational surname derived from the region of Holderness in Yorkshire, England.

In the 1881 census there were 522 people recorded with the Holderness surname, ranking it #6,545 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 612, ranked #8,580, down from #6,545 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Eton, Sleaford, New and Preston. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Kirklees, Preston and East Lindsey.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Holderness is 650 in 1911. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 17.2%.

1881 census count

522

Ranked #6,545

Modern count

612

2016, ranked #8,580

Peak year

1911

650 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Holderness had 522 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #6,545 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 612 in 2016, ranked #8,580.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 650 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Holderness surname distribution map

The map shows where the Holderness surname is concentrated in each census or modern distribution year. Darker areas mean a stronger local concentration.

Distribution map

Holderness surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Holderness over time

The table below tracks recorded surname counts and rank from the 19th-century census years through the modern adult-register period.

Year Period Count Rank
1851 historical 329 #7,079
1861 historical 410 #6,264
1881 historical 522 #6,545
1891 historical 602 #6,369
1901 historical 623 #6,862
1911 historical 650 #6,443
1997 modern 606 #8,087
1998 modern 633 #8,076
1999 modern 614 #8,314
2000 modern 620 #8,240
2001 modern 608 #8,220
2002 modern 611 #8,349
2003 modern 576 #8,566
2004 modern 590 #8,453
2005 modern 584 #8,431
2006 modern 582 #8,469
2007 modern 579 #8,585
2008 modern 594 #8,487
2009 modern 607 #8,517
2010 modern 619 #8,580
2011 modern 603 #8,660
2012 modern 609 #8,508
2013 modern 636 #8,345
2014 modern 635 #8,411
2015 modern 614 #8,573
2016 modern 612 #8,580

Geography

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Where Holderness' are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Eton, Sleaford, New, Preston, New Windsor, Clewer and St Michael-le-Belfry, St Giles. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Kirklees, Preston, East Lindsey and Oldham. Treat these as concentration signals, not proof that every family line began there.

Some modern areas include a three-digit suffix, such as Leeds 110. The suffix is a small-area code, so it stays in the table while the prose uses the plain place name.

Top historical parishes

Rank Parish Area
1 Eton Buckinghamshire
2 Sleaford, New Lincolnshire
3 Preston Lancashire
4 New Windsor, Clewer Berkshire
5 St Michael-le-Belfry, St Giles Yorkshire, East Riding

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Kirklees 028 Kirklees
2 Kirklees 018 Kirklees
3 Preston 016 Preston
4 East Lindsey 013 East Lindsey
5 Oldham 026 Oldham

Forenames

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First names often paired with Holderness

These lists show first names that appear often with the Holderness surname in historical and recent records.

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Holderness

Modern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Holderness, this points to the kinds of places where the surname is most concentrated today.

These neighbourhood labels describe areas, not individual people. They are useful because surnames often cluster through family history, migration, housing patterns and local work. A surname can be strongest in one type of neighbourhood even when people with that name live across the country.

The UK classification gives the national picture. The London classification is more specific to the capital, where housing, age profile, tenure and population mix can look quite different from the rest of the UK.

UK neighbourhood type

UK Output Area Classification

Supergroup

Suburbanites and Peri-Urbanities

Group

Rural Amenity

Nationally, the Holderness surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Rural Amenity, within Suburbanites and Peri-Urbanities. This does not mean every Holderness household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

This Group comprises older parents or retirees, with no resident dependent children, and with the lowest residential densities in this Supergroup. Predominantly UK-born, residents typically live in detached houses, although others do live in semi-detached and terraced properties. The level of multiple car ownership is the highest in this Supergroup. Most houses are owner occupied although social renting is also present. Many concentrations occur in high amenity rural locations, such as Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty.

Wider pattern

Pervasive throughout the UK, members of this Supergroup typically own (or are buying) their detached, semi-detached or terraced homes. They are also typically educated to A Level/Highers or degree level and work in skilled or professional occupations. Typically born in the UK, some families have children, although the median adult age is above 45 and some property has become under-occupied after children have left home. This Supergroup is pervasive not only in suburban locations, but also in neighbourhoods at or beyond the edge of cities that adjoin rural parts of the country.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

Suburban Asian Communities

Group

Settled Semi-Detached Asians

Within London, Holderness is most associated with areas classed as Settled Semi-Detached Asians, part of Suburban Asian Communities. This gives the surname a London-specific profile rather than forcing the capital into the same pattern as the rest of the country.

Read profile summary

Group profile

These residents share Supergroup characteristics of large (non-Chinese) Asian populations but those identifying as Bangladeshi are notably absent. Many residents were born in the UK, while other more recent migrants have African birthplaces. Semi-detached housing, much of it owner occupied, prevails in these suburban residential locations.

Wider London pattern

Many residents of these neighbourhoods are of (non-Chinese) Asian descent, with many identifying as Indian, Pakistani or Bangladeshi. Neighbourhoods are located across large areas of suburban west, north-east and south London. Detached, semi-detached and terraced houses are more prevalent than flats and socially rented housing is uncommon. Few residents live in communal establishments. Many families have dependent children, sometimes in overcrowded accommodation, and few households are ethnically mixed. Marriage rates are above the London average. The even age distribution, relative absence of individuals living alone and frequent incidence of households with children suggests that multi-generation households may be relatively common. Employment is often in skilled trades, elementary, sales and customer service occupations, and roles as process, plant, and machine operatives. Manufacturing and construction are well represented, along with employment in distribution, hotels, and restaurants. Many adults have only level 1, 2, or apprenticeship qualifications. English is not used at home by some residents. Religious affiliation is above average.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Holderness is most concentrated in decile 6 for access to healthy assets and hazards. This places the surname near the middle of the scale.

Lower deciles point towards weaker access to healthy assets or stronger exposure to local hazards. Higher deciles point towards stronger access and fewer hazards.

6
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Holderness falls in decile 2 for neighbourhood deprivation. This puts the surname towards the more deprived end of the index.

Decile 1 represents the more deprived end of the scale. Decile 10 represents the less deprived end.

2
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Holderness is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 30-40 mbit/s.

The scale below places that band in context, from slower local download bands through to faster ones.

6
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - British

This describes the area pattern most associated with Holderness, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.

Meaning and origin of Holderness

The surname Holderness originated in the East Riding of Yorkshire, England, dating back to the 12th century. It is a locational name derived from the ancient region of Holderness, which lies in the northeastern part of the East Riding, forming a peninsula between the Humber estuary and the North Sea. The name is believed to come from the Old Norse words "holdr" meaning a landowner or tenant, and "ness" meaning a promontory or headland.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the surname can be found in the Pipe Rolls of Yorkshire from 1166, where a Robert de Holderness is mentioned. The name also appears in the Hundred Rolls of 1273, which were administrative records compiled during the reign of King Edward I.

In the 14th century, a notable figure with the surname was William de Holderness, a clergyman who served as the Chancellor of the University of Cambridge from 1317 to 1322. He was also the Rector of Somersham in Huntingdonshire.

Another prominent individual bearing the name was Robert de Holderness, a 14th-century English knight who fought in the Hundred Years' War against the French. He was born around 1330 and served under King Edward III.

During the 15th century, a John Holderness, born in 1412, was a prominent merchant and landowner in the city of York. He served as the Lord Mayor of York in 1464 and was known for his charitable contributions.

In the 16th century, Edmund Holderness, born in 1520, was a renowned English playwright and poet. He is credited with writing several plays, including "The Tragedy of Sir John Oldcastle," which was performed before Queen Elizabeth I.

In the 17th century, John Holderness, born in 1628, was a notable English clergyman who served as the Archdeacon of Nottingham from 1681 until his death in 1694.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Holderness families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Holderness surname. Use the location tables for concentration, then the name and occupation tables for the people behind the surname.

Top counties

Total is the county count. Frequency and index adjust for local population size, so they are better concentration signals. Yorkshire leads with 125 Holderness' recorded in 1881 and an index of 2.48x.

County Total Index
Yorkshire 125 2.48x
Lancashire 118 1.95x
Lincolnshire 89 10.93x
Middlesex 55 1.08x
Berkshire 23 6.02x
Surrey 23 0.93x
Buckinghamshire 19 6.17x
Kent 16 0.92x
Devon 11 1.04x
Hertfordshire 8 2.28x
Essex 7 0.70x
Durham 6 0.40x
Nottinghamshire 5 0.73x
Hampshire 4 0.38x
Somerset 3 0.37x
Sussex 3 0.35x
Bedfordshire 2 0.76x
Cheshire 2 0.18x
Brecknockshire 1 0.98x
Derbyshire 1 0.13x
Warwickshire 1 0.08x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Preston in Lancashire leads with 74 Holderness' recorded in 1881 and an index of 45.78x.

Place Total Index
Preston 74 45.78x
New Windsor 20 155.64x
Partney 16 2077.92x
Alverthorpe Cum Thornes 15 81.88x
Leeds 15 5.26x
Milton In Gravesend 15 57.58x
New Sleaford 14 268.20x
York St Mary 12 57.42x
Eton 11 157.59x
St Marylebone London 11 4.05x
Bridlington 10 86.58x
Lambeth 10 2.25x
Putney 10 43.08x
Walton Le Dale 10 61.58x
Lea Ashton Ingol 8 199.50x
St Albans St Peter 8 67.57x
Stoke Newington London 8 20.17x
Boston 7 28.34x
Fangfoss 7 2333.33x
Headingley Cum Burley 7 21.55x
Market Rasen 7 153.85x
Oldham 7 3.59x
St Pancras London 7 1.71x
Welbury 7 2121.21x
Great Driffield 6 57.92x
Hundleby 6 545.45x
Islington London 6 1.22x
Stockton On Tees 6 8.22x
Armley 5 22.47x
Ashby By Partney 5 2272.73x
Kirkdale 5 4.92x
Millington W Little 5 1562.50x
St Luke London 5 6.12x
Walthamstow 5 13.82x
Whitwood 5 69.74x
York St Lawrence 5 95.06x
Aldershot 4 11.44x
Ashton Under Lyne 4 3.03x
Everton 4 350.88x
Horton 4 266.67x
Louth 4 21.44x
Lusby 4 2500.00x
Marske In Guisbrough 4 44.64x
Shoreditch London 4 1.81x
Sibsey 4 217.39x
Stanwell 4 106.10x
Sutton Stoneferry 4 27.70x
Tormoham 4 8.92x
Toynton All Sts 4 677.97x
Woolfardisworthy 4 259.74x
Bishop Wilton Cum 3 309.28x
Crewkerne 3 34.48x
East Stonehouse 3 14.37x
New Sealford 3 178.57x
Spilsby 3 116.28x
Tetford 3 291.26x
Wycombe 3 13.07x
Bedford St Mary 2 29.46x
Binbrooke 2 98.52x
Brighton 2 1.15x
Camberwell 2 0.61x
Claughton With Grange 2 39.06x
Clewer 2 12.77x
Great Harwood 2 18.32x
Holy Trinity 2 1.65x
Middle Rasen 2 129.03x
St George Hanover Square 2 2.23x
West Derby 2 1.13x
Aylesbury 1 7.33x
Bourn 1 15.20x
Crickhowell 1 42.55x
Darenth 1 37.31x
Flixton 1 32.26x
Holbeach 1 11.03x
Kensington London 1 0.35x
Keymer 1 16.50x
Linthorpe 1 3.32x
Litherland 1 7.92x
Stamford St Mary 1 60.61x
Westminster St James 1 1.91x

Top female names

These are the female first names most often recorded with the Holderness surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.

Name Count
Mary 31
Jane 23
Elizabeth 22
Sarah 21
Ann 14
Alice 11
Eliza 9
Emma 9
Annie 7
Emily 7
Hannah 7
Isabella 7
Ellen 5
Harriet 5
Ada 4
Agnes 4
Betsey 3
Charlotte 3
Esther 3
Fanny 3
Frances 3
Louisa 3
Lucy 3
Maria 3
Martha 3
Rose 3
Amelia 2
Amy 2
Anne 2
Edith 2
Florence 2
Henirette 2
Henrietta 2
Lydia 2
Margt. 2
Susan 2
Susannah 2
Adelene 1
Betsy 1
Betty 1
Blanche 1
E.Mary 1
Easter 1
Edna 1
Eleanor 1
Elizebeth 1
Elizh. 1
Harriett 1
Helena 1
Violet 1

Top male names

These are the male first names most often recorded with the Holderness surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.

Name Count
John 34
William 27
George 18
James 15
Thomas 15
Henry 13
Joseph 10
Charles 7
Robert 7
Arthur 6
Harry 6
Walter 6
Francis 5
Herbert 4
Richard 4
Albert 3
Sidney 3
Thos. 3
Alfred 2
Edwin 2
Ernest 2
Frank 2
Peter 2
Rashdall 2
Septimus 2
Wm. 2
Alexander 1
Archie 1
Benjamin 1
Cecil 1
Chas.T. 1
Christopher 1
David 1
Douglas 1
Edmund 1
Edward 1
Fred 1
Fred.W. 1
Frederick 1
Graham 1
Harold 1
Hedley 1
Luke 1
Matthew 1
Murry 1
Percey 1
Percy 1
Ralph 1
Samuel 1
Tom 1

FAQ

Holderness surname: questions and answers

How common was the Holderness surname in 1881?

In 1881, 522 people were recorded with the Holderness surname. That placed it at #6,545 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Holderness surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 612 in 2016. That gives Holderness a modern rank of #8,580.

What does the Holderness surname mean?

A locational surname derived from the region of Holderness in Yorkshire, England.

What does the Holderness map show?

The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Holderness bearers relative to the surrounding population.

What records is this surname page based on?

The historical counts come from census surname records. The modern counts and neighbourhood summaries come from later surname distribution records. Counts are recorded bearers in those records, not a live estimate of everyone with the name today.